October 16, 2003

Perhaps our fate was not so terrible.
No major gaffes, no Buckner ’86.
Yet still the pain remains for Boston fans.
My generation, swollen with new hope
And pride for Manny, Pedro and Nomah—
Deflated by a single pinstripe prick.
Attempting to console each other, we
Removed our caps and said, “There’s still next spring.”
But why do I suspect that when my son
Or daughter comes of age and asks me when
Our team is going to win, I’ll say the same?
Like those of naughty children Christmas Day
Our stockings of October baseball held
A lump of coal, a Series no one watched.